And I prayed to Freddie about the Devil. I asked her to keep my hand out of this. I asked her to keep me safe from evil. But, for all my praying, the Devil still found me.
— Chapter 1

Our town was small enough that I never developed a healthy fear of strangers. To me, they were exciting things, gift-wrapped and full of possibilities, the sweet smell of somewhere else wafting from them like perfume. And so River West, stranger, didn’t stir in me any sort of fear ... only a rush of excitement, like how I felt right before a really big storm hit, when the air crackled with expectation.
— Chapter 2

Is there anyone else who thinks this cover looks like the younger brother of Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep? Must be the font. I haven’t read either of the two Shining novels (nightmares don’t need to be encouraged any further, thank you), but I don’t doubt that there are these King-esque leanings and that the comparison of the two is not not uncalled for ... I mean it’s probably not as much horror as King (as I said, I haven’t read him), but for a book of this length there’s a good dose of thrill and mystery. And it’s quite graphic ... not in the steamy department (it’s comparatively tame there actually). The writing is beautiful in a descriptive, soft, flowing way that makes you picture warm summers with iced tea, but you still know that the water is probably ice cold and full of flesh-eating monsters. I enjoyed the beginning more than the middle and the end is sort of closed but also open so that I’ll have a look at the sequel. After some reading with less visceral imagery. Oh hey there, double entendre ...

I found myself in this sentence: “My habit of reading more than I socialized made me use odd, awkward words without thinking.” How about you? Do you pick up words from your readings and use them to the amazement of your colloquists? Teasers and stories are welcome in the comments.

My father was a human lie detector—although my mom didn’t like it when I called him that; the technical term was Discerner—and he could immediately tell if I lied. He said he could even tell when I planned to lie. Irritating.
— Chapter 1

“I don’t know. I try not to take Rowan too seriously. It’s been my downfall many times.”
— Chapter 16

So here’s a marketing thing that totally got me, and I’m not ashamed to admit it: Epic Read’s offer of the whole book online for the duration of the weekend before last. And the really good news is that the sequel is already out as well! There are advantages of discovering a series late(r). But seriously, as much as I dread decisions sometimes, this ability to determine the outcome in advance would probably cripple me. I love to read about it though. The word definitions at the beginning of each chapter are quite fun as well and add a nice touch to the book.

How are your decision-making abilities? Let's hear from you in the comments and share your teaser choice of the week.

Fixed on his eyes, I said, “Do you laugh at me?”
He was quiet for a moment and finally the tension drained from him. “No, Jaron,” he said darkly. “I curse you with every breath I exhale. But I do not laugh.”
— Chapter 5

Being early to my own assassination is something that could definitely happen to me as I’m constantly early. While some people need to be told a time 15 minutes before you actually want to meet, I could use a time 15 minutes after that ... but no one ever does that. Why would they? And no, please don’t start this with me now, it won’t end well. Anyway, I don’t know how this sequel to The False Prince slipped past me, but I’m rectifying this now as a contrast programme to reading a bunch of Adam Blade’s Deep Dive (strictly for professional purposes, even if they have some entertaining aspects ... if you’re looking for something to give to your eight-year-old).

Are you the early bird out to catch the worm or the clever worm who knows that the early ones get eaten? Let me know along with your teaser in the comments.

“What did I even do?”
“Besides have a major freak-out last night?”
— Chapter 9

Fiona rolls her eyes and tries to push past me, but I stand firm in the
middle of the dark road. Jeremiah B. Coombes would probably tell me to
flee the wild beast and retreat to safety, but I’m sick of tolerating
all her crap. No more.
— Chapter 20

I am so not a winter person. Sure, some snow for Christmas, but this sticky, wet, and cold weather with crystallising fog and literally days of no sunshine at all? Not my thing. So what’s better than some light reading that most would dub summer entertainment? ... she said while still stuck in the trilogy from last week. But I read this recently and thought I’d keep these teasers for some dreary weather. It has some interesting aspects and a good range of not uninteresting guys, but you have to accept it as a light and fun read. But who says that everything you read has to be of profound critically appraised literary value?

Do you have any winter-escape-recommendations? Share them with your teaser in the comments.